"Last Lands" is an expedition highlighting the commitment to preserving some of the world's most treasured natural wonders. It focuses on national and maritime parks, emphasizing the extraordinary efforts needed to protect these breathtaking landmarks. Beneath the beauty of each country lies a narrative of conservation that shows either the community's success in protecting these parks or the daunting challenges they face.
ABC News Live is teaming up with Global Conservation, the only nonprofit dedicated to directly protecting endangered national parks and Indigenous territories in developing countries, to present "Last Lands."
This new series is hosted by award-winning correspondent Bob Woodruff and highlights the global fight to protect the planet's most threatened ecosystems. Having premiered Monday at 8:30 p.m. EDT/9:30 p.m. PDT, the four-episode series is streaming on ABC News Live, available on Disney+, Hulu, YouTube, Roku and more.
It showcases the critical efforts of Global Conservation, governments, and communities to preserve the world's last intact tropical forests and endangered wildlife.
National parks hold historical significance and they also play a critical role in educating people about each country's heritage. These parks shelter awe-inspiring ecosystems, abundant wildlife and cultural resources that help support local economies. The first national park, Yellowstone, was established in the U.S. in 1872 to safeguard areas of exceptional beauty and bring lasting joy to visitors.
As tourism increased, the U.S. Cavalry was deployed to Yellowstone for its protection -- a duty now fulfilled by park rangers. However, today's rangers are grappling with new challenges as they attempt to keep up with changing ecosystems and rising pressures from environmental degradation.
Threats like deforestation, poaching, dynamite fishing and disputes over indigenous land rights plague these fragile environments. Every country experiences loss -- some of it preventable, and some beyond their control.
"Last Lands" sees Bob Woodruff take a global journey to meet those risking their lives to protect national parks. From cartel threats in the Amazon to illegal fishing in Indonesia, this series explores the fight to preserve the planet's last wild places. Travel through Asia, Africa and South America to witness efforts against deforestation, poaching and ivory trafficking, highlighting national parks' role in safeguarding endangered species.
The first episode started streaming Monday and takes us to Maratua Island, which is part of Indonesia's Derawan Archipelago. Many fishermen have resorted to bomb fishing -- also known as dynamite fishing -- in an attempt to catch enough to survive in the Southeast Asian country.
This illegal practice, which uses explosives to kill large numbers of fish, is not only destructive to marine life but also devastating to coral reefs, further disrupting the marine food chain and endangering fishermen's livelihoods.